A WEEK WHEN HISTORY WAS MADE(Posted at 20:40 hrs. on 31st Aug 2009)

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A WEEK WHEN HISTORY WAS MADE

Posted at 20:40 hrs. on 31st Aug 2009

 

Imagine industry captains from the financial world

‘descending’ to Prasanthi Nilayam to deliberate ethics and morality in

the world of finance. …And sitting at His Lotus Feet they deliberate on

supposed reforms that would save the world from the disaster it

encountered; and they vie for singing praise of Bhagawan’s University

and students. The week had elements of such amazing developments that

became history in the history of Prasanthi Nilayam.

 

The Mission statement that He proclaimed long ago, Bhagawan had in no

uncertain terms announced about His vow: He said, I have a vow: To lead all who stray away from the straight path again into goodness and save them. At

a time when the world economy is under stress, crumbled down to lower

depths, when ethics, lofty ideals and righteous principles were beaten

to take a backstage to man’s ever unsatiated greed, the week that

passed had something quite interesting reflecting Bhagawan’s vow in His

mission statement.

The

week’s highlight was essentially a high profile conference aimed at

bringing ethical values in the world of finance. Sri Sathya Sai

University, in its relentless pursuit to bring quality in the world of

business management, had organized a two-day conference on “Ethics and

World of Finance†attended by scores of Industry captains from Banking

and Financial Sector. The Conference that was inaugurated officially by

Bhagawan, who is incidentally, is the Chancellor of the University was

attended by the Governor of Reserve Bank of India, Dr. Duvvuri Subba

Rao and the former Governor, Mr. Y.Venugopal Reddy along with scores of

senior bankers from the country.

 

 

Delivering the keynote address at the inaugural function Mr. Subba Rao said: “Because

of the very nature of the financial sector, leaders and the top

management in the sector have an extra obligation to be sensitive to

larger societal obligations. Economics, as an academic discipline, is

losing its value base, and conjectured, if that could be at the root of

the malaise in the financial sector.â€

In his in-depth analysis of the present economic

recession and the role of ethics, the RBI Governor outlined how a sense

of responsibility to larger societal good underpins on the mandate of

the RBI.. “All of us as individuals, families, social communities

and faith communities confront ethical dilemmas everyday, and we

resolve them in our own ways. We take the value of ethical behaviour to

be axiomatic,†he observed.

“Banks and financial institutions have a greater

responsibility of being conscious of the obligation they have of not

jeopardizing the larger public interest,†added the Governor divulging in detail about the Banking sector’s responsibility towards the public interest in general.

Concluding his speech the Governor listed out the

ethical dimensions of Reserve Bank of India, listing the bank’s roles

and responsibilities being the guardians of nation’s financial security.

The high-profile guest of honour’s subject oriented

lecture spreading across the essentials of financial fabric,

intertwined with illustrations and examples was a treatise of relishing

treat for the audience especially for the students from the University.

 

 

 

 

The former Governor of Reserve Bank of India, Mr.

Y.Venugopal Reddy delivered the invited lecture. Prof. Vishwanath

Pandit, current Vice-chancellor and Mr. S.V.Giri, the 6th Vice

chancellor of the University also addressed the intellectual gathering.

 

While the panel sessions and deliberations

continued at the Institute, the 28th evening witnessed an extension of

the ongoing conference in the Sai Kulwant Hall. In a function

officiated by Bhagawan Himself, and attended by over 24 top brasses

from the Banking and Financial Sector, selected luminaries spoke of

their perception about a whole gamut of issues ranging from business to

ethics to spirituality.

Then came the valedictory on the 29th evening, when

Bhagawan delivered a Divine Discourse wherein many a maxim, that

Bhagawan quotes quite often, come to the fore, imparting words of

wisdom. Ensuring Divine Grace anywhere and everywhere, asking students

and devotees to develop intense love for God, Bhagawan cautioned them

to stay away from sins as sins once committed would rebound. Quoting

once again His oft repeated maxim, Love for God, Fear of Sin and

Morality in Society, highlighting the same to be the underpinning moral

and righteous social fabric, Bhagawan exhorted the students to engage

in good activities in the larger societal benefit.

Earlier the week began with a Burrakatha

presentation by the trio, from the University, who had been onstage

several times during the year.. It was His story in His presence, the

epic Ramaya in a nutshell, narrated in the Divine Presence, a session

meant for the devotees to understand the greater significance behind

the glory of the story of the Lord, Sri Rama!

 

 

Then came the immersion ceremony. Quite distinct from the world

outside, typical of the Prasanthi culture, where everything happens as

per His loving command, scores of Ganeshas were mounted on chariots to

send in procession before immersing the Chitravathi River stretch,

bypass Enumanapalli. It was an apt example of greater harmony and

unity, where students joining hands making the festivity a grand

success, showing up their greater talent for their beloved Bhagawan.

If paid attention to the background details of enormity of such a

festivity, one would understand the intensity of devotion and sacrifice

the students community puts in, all with one intention, to make their

Master happy.

…And this was very much reflected in Bhagawan. In an

‘unscheduled’ Divine Discourse delivered the next day, that turned out

to become the Ganesh Chaturthi Divine Discourse, by virtue of the

content and the tone and tenor He used, Bhagawan lavishly praised the

boys for their greater unity in making the occasion a grand success.

The discourse was a treatise on the Vinayaka Principle, divulging deep

into the esoteric wisdom that the elephant-headed God stand for.

 

 

 

Seven hundred odd Youth from the state of Orissa,

come on a Parthi Yathra, had something firm to affirm. In a Dance

Drama, entitled “Kingdom of God, Here and Now†staged on the

auspicious Thursday evening, a beautiful portrayal of a real life

story, the youth reaffirmed their love and devotion to Bhagawan,

depicting how greater faith and dedication win His Divine Grace,

achieving the seemingly impossible. It was the story the coming into

being of an orphanage, all by His grace, in the process crumbling

various roadblocks.

Devotees from the “God’s Own Countryâ€, Kerala are

already started getting off to the “Valley of Peaceâ€, Prasanthi Nilayam

to celebrate their national festival, Onam scheduled for the coming

week, and Prasanthi would continue with her festive demeanor.

The week’s rose beneficiaries were Mr. Ramalingam,

Mr. Rangaswami, Mr. Sambhashiva Rao, Mr. Padmanabhan, Mr. Rajendran,

all with the maintenance section, all with the maintenance section, Mr.

Kulkarni with the Publications Relations Office and Mr. Madhu Puri from

the Mandir.

From the Burra Katha to the Orissa Dance Drama,

from the Vinayaka Chaturthi Divine Discourse to the Valedictory Divine

Discourse on the Conference held, from the Ganesha Immersion to the

High-Profile Conference, the whole week was suffused with greater

ideals, higher principles, pristine love for God, who is One and One

only.

…And what lingers in one’s mind is undoubtedly the

big conference in the name of ethics in financial world. Is it history

being made in Prasanthi Nilayam?, wherein Industry captains spoke of

ethics and moral in the world of finance, in the process submitting

themselves at His Feet. When the world is watching Prasanthi for forms

and reforms, this conference could be taken as a landmark achievement

towards a righteous, moral world established in Sanathana Dharma.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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